A Visit to Aquileia

The Roman Forum at Aquileia

During our stay in Grado, we took the public bus to the historic town of Aquileia, a short ten-minute ride away; the town is also accessible by boat via the Canale della Taiada and the Fiume (River) Natissa.  The town of Aquileia was an opulent town with fortified walls surrounding magnificent forums, palaces, monuments and harbors.

The Remains of a Roman Road, Aquileia

In 452, Atilla the Hun came to Aquileia and devastated the city along with other Roman settlements, which began the string of invasions from the north.  Colonized in 181 BC, Aquileia became the capital of the tenth region under Augustus.  It soon turned into a center of important trade thanks to the navigable river that crossed it and the network of roads that linked the town to the Po Valley and to Central Europe.  With the barbarian invasions of the 5^th Century, the slow decline began; the finishing stroke came in 568 by the Lombards.  Today, several historic sights remain:  The Aquileia Basilica and Bell Tower; a few remains at the Roman Forum; a piece of the old Roman road; and funerary sites with sarcophagi. 

Basilica of Aquileia

The Basilica is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and to the saints (martyrs) of Aquileia.  The original structure was pillaged by Attila the Hun; but by the beginning of the 9^th Century, restoration work began under Patriarch Maxentius.  Materials from the previous structure were recovered and the “new structure” is still maintained to this day.  The Basilica preserves one of the most extraordinary mosaic floor complexes. 

Mosaic floors in the Aquileia Basilica

The crypt under the high alter is adorned with frescoes telling the story of Saint Mark and houses the relics (bones) of the Aquileian martyrs. 

The Crypt

It is believed that the new faith (Christianity) spread to this area starting from the Church of Aquileia, referred to as the Mother Church. 

Aquileia Basilica believed to be the Mother Church

The Bell Tower was constructed in place of the original north hall; the original mosaic can be seen under the Bell Tower through a glass enclosure surrounding the base of the tower. 

The 73-meter (219-foot) Bell Tower was used as a look-out around the year 1000. 

The Tower's Spiral Staircase

Visitors can hike the spiral stone steps to the top of the tower and take in the vistas of the canals and lagoon.  We also visited the remains of the Forum, which served as the central square for social gatherings, where people conducted business, discussed politics, and administered justice.  Across the modern-day road from the Forum, we discovered a remaining section of the old Roman road, running east-west.  

One of several funerary sites at Aquileia

Understanding the distant past can often be difficult; but witnessing the treasures left behind provides a special connection for those in the present. 

Baptistery in the Basilica, Aquileia

Today, Aquileia is listed as an UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the University of Trieste is involved in regular excavation projects.  The National Archaeological Museum in town contains over 2,000 Roman artifacts.

Unearthed ruins adjacent to the baptistery

If you would like more information on Canal Boating in Europe, or to book a canal boat trip for 2019, contact Mark Bunzel, (mark.bunzel@gmail.com) for information and briefings on canal boat trips in France and Italy now being planned.